Greenpeace activists: Family of journalist Kieron Bryan who was jailed for 60 days in Russia relieved at bail decision

The family of a London journalist freed after spending more than 60 days locked up in a Russian prison cell spoke today of their relief.

Kieron Bryan was granted bail yesterday after being charged with piracy over a Greenpeace protest in the Arctic.

After campaigning for his release for weeks, his family said: “It’s amazing news to know that Kieron will be released from prison soon. We have been thinking of him every minute of every day and we can’t wait to speak to him and see him.

“Our relief is obviously tempered by the fact that he is still facing absurd charges, [just for] doing his job. This isn’t over for him or the others, and we hope that these charges will be dropped soon so that he can carry on with his life without this terrible uncertainty hanging over him.”

The 29-year-old film-maker appeared in a St Petersburg court yesterday morning and smiled when the judge read out testimonies and letters from family and friends.

Addressing the court, Mr Bryan said: “To be accused of hooliganism for doing my job as a reporter is the same as suggesting every journalist who works in a warzone is a soldier or the court reporter who works here today is somehow responsible for the outcome.

“I was simply there to observe, document and report as I always do in my job. I have absolutely no interest or participation in any organisation.”

He was one of the 30 people detained in the northern city of Murmansk after Greenpeace’s vessel Arctic Sunrise was boarded by the Russian coast guard two months ago, which Mr Bryan recorded on film.

A campaign to free him and the other activists grew widespread attention with actor Jude Law, Blur frontman Damon Albarn and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood adding their support.

Mr Bryan and activists Alexandra Harris and Anthony Perrett were the first Britons among the “Arctic 30” to be given bail.

The other three remaining Britons are expected to face court by the end of the week.

Greenpeace is campaigning against companies drilling for oil in the waters of the Arctic and was targeting Russia’s state-controlled energy giant Gazprom’s offshore platform in the Pechora Sea.